Emily Vinson, audiovisual archivist in University of Houston Libraries Special Collections, collaborated with colleagues* to realize the project goal of preserving and making accessible a large scope of fragile video from the 1980s and 90s, and to accomplish this within one year.

The KUHT Collection is home to roughly 2,000 films and over 12,000 video assets, preserving the broadcast and production history of the nation’s first educational, non-profit television station. Notable and newly-digitized series from the collection include Almanac, The Capitol Report, J.D.’s Journal, and Ryan’s Roundtable. Scholars from a wide range of disciplines, as well as Houston history enthusiasts, will find high research value and interest in the collection, which provides an insightful and colorful snapshot of Houston and Texas in the late 20th century. Much of the content addresses critical issues in society and politics, such as race relations, the AIDS crisis, zoning and voter laws, crime, education, consumerism, prison reform, and immigration, many of which hold relevance today. Alongside the fast-paced news magazine formats, a number of human interest stories and documentaries are also accessible.

Viewers can find the video collection on the newly-released UH Libraries Audio/Video Repository, which is searchable and provides high-quality desktop and mobile playback. Powered by Avalon Media System, the repository was developed to accommodate the Libraries’ ever-growing audio and moving image collections.

The TexTreasures grant provided funds for the digitization of the open-reel videotapes, a high-risk format with a lack of accessibility due to obsolete playback options; as well as compensation for the student assistants whose work on the project was integral to a successful outcome.

Vinson noted that the KUHT archive has been taken in by UH Special Collections over the past 15 years, and preservation efforts are ongoing. While previous projects include the digitization of early films from KUHT’s educational era, this is the first time that video from the collection has been translated and made widely accessible.

TexTreasures is a yearly competitive grant program of TexShare, a consortium of Texas libraries joining together to share print and electronic materials, purchase online resources, and combine staff expertise. TexShare is administered by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC).

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